The Global Solution Networks program at the University of Toronto has released a two part research report The Remarkable Internet Governance Network, authored by former Internet Society President/CEO Lynn St. Amour, and GSN Executive Director Don Tapscott. The report is intended to assist governments and organizations to better understand the Internet governance network and how to help it succeed.

[St. Amour and Tapscott] describe the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance, why it works remarkably well and what needs to be done to ensure a robust, global, accessible and effectively governed Internet for future generations. [They] applaud the NTIA decision as a natural step forward and a significant confirmation that the multi-stakeholder model is effective and legitimate. They explain that evolving the global multi-stakeholder ecosystem is not only right and timely, but also the best way to address some of the thornier policy issues global society faces. These issues range from privacy, security and Net neutrality, to access and intellectual property.

Included in the report’s additional materials are transcripts of interviews with Tim Berners-Lee, Fadi Chehadé, Vint Cerf, Bertrand de La Chapelle, and Jonathan Zittrain. The report is free to download:

Here is the video archive of the Washington DC end of our joint event Surveillance, #Cybersecurity, and the Future of the Internet, on July 24 2013. The event tackled the complex implications of recently revealed government surveillance programs around the world, examining how to balance objectives for openness, global interoperability, and security in an online world and whether the vision of an open, innovative Internet can persist in an environment of online surveillance and data collection. The video has full English closed captioning.

Next Wednesday July 24 2013 from 11am-5.30pm the Internet Society’s New York Chapter (ISOC-NY) will be joining together with the Internet Society’s North America Bureau to present Surveillance, Cybersecurity, and the Future of the Internet – linked events in both cities to discuss the recent revelations on surveillance, and to consider their effect on not only Internet users, but also the future development of the Internet itself. The NYC presentations will be from 11am-1pm at the IMC Lab in Chelsea. The DC forum, known as INET DC, will be from 2pm-5.30pm at George Washington University. For the entire event there will be a skype link between the two locations, which will also be webcast on separate livestream channels. Further remote participation will be available via the respective livestream chats. No registration is needed for the webcasts. No live captions, sorry. Admission is to the locations is open to the public and free, please register at the links below.

Tom Brennan, Open Web Application Security Project, owasp.org – Self-Taught from the days of CP/M & 8-bit computers and a set of lock-picks the hobby moved quickly from BBS antics to mainstream. Over the past two decades, Tom has worn may hats providing architecture, development, administration, security and product management. His experiences range from the United States Marines Corps, to the algorithmic trading on Wall Street. Active Community Projects include: US DoD – ISO/IEC CS1 SC27 Ad-Hoc Working Group, National Board of Information Security Examiners (NBISE), Conference Chair, Security Conference: AppSecUSA 2013 – http://www.appsecusa.org

Jochai Ben Avie, Policy Director, Access International, http://accessnow.org – Jochai is a wonk by training. At Access, he heads up the policy team, crafting pragmatic and principled policy guidance on issues surrounding digital due process, data protection, network interference, telecom and spectrum policy, and internet governance reform. Prior to his time at Access, he researched terrorism and reconciliation, the rise of public education, and the relationship between stress and coping. Jochai graduated summa cum laude from Bard College at Simon’s Rock with a BA in Political Science and Social Psychology.

Ellen Pearlman, Volumetric Society, http://nyc.volumetric.org – Ellen is Director and Curator of the 3D Volumetric Society of New York and recently presented at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia as part of Cyberfest, the only festival of new media in Russia. Ellen Pearlman’s blog “Planet 3D,” http://artdis.tumblr.com on breakthroughs in 3D, new media, telematics and digital art was a finalist for the highly competitive Andy Warhol Arts Writers Grant.

Paul Brigner, Regional Bureau Director, North America, Internet Society – Paul Brigner is Regional Director of the North American Bureau at the Internet Society where he oversees projects, initiatives and activities across the Internet Society’s functional and programmatic areas in the United States and Canada.

John Curran, President & CEO, American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) – John Curran is the President and CEO of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), responsible for leading the organization in its mission of managing the distribution of Internet number resources in its geographic region. He was also a founder of ARIN and served as its Chairman from inception through early 2009.

Laura DeNardis, Professor, American University – Dr. Laura DeNardis is a globally recognized Internet governance scholar and an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at American University in Washington, DC.

David S. Dolling, Dean, George Washington University, School of Engineering and Applied Science – David S. Dolling began his tenure as dean of GW’s School of Engineering and Applied Science on September 1, 2008.

Leslie Harris, President & CEO, Center for Democracy & Technology – A recognized global leader in Internet policy, Leslie Harris is the President and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology (“CDT”) http://www.cdt.org, the leading Internet freedom organization working at the vanguard of technology and policy innovation.

Melissa Hathaway, President, Hathaway Global Strategies – Melissa Hathaway is President of Hathaway Global Strategies, LLC and a Senior Advisor at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Ms. Hathaway served in two Presidential administrations, and brings a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional perspective to strategic consulting and strategy formulation for public and private sector clients.

Lance J. Hoffman, Distinguished Research Professor, George Washington University’s Cyber Security Policy and Research Institute – Dr. Lance J. Hoffman is known for his pioneering research on computer security and risk analysis, and for his interdisciplinary work in computer privacy issues.

Steve Roberts, Shapiro Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University – A well-known commentator on many Washington-based TV shows, Roberts also appears regularly as a political analyst on the ABC radio network and is a substitute host on NPR’s “Diane Rehm Show.” As a teacher, he lectures widely on American politics and the role of the news media. Since 1997 he has been the Shapiro Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, where he has taught for the last 21 years.

Lynn St.Amour, President & CEO, Internet Society – Lynn St.Amour is President/CEO of the Internet Society. She joined the Internet Society in 1998 as Executive Director of its Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) division. She became global Executive Director and COO in 1999 and held that position until her appointment as President and CEO in February of 2001.

Daniel J. Weitzner, Director & Co-Founder, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) – CSAIL studies the relationship between network architecture and public policy, and develops new Web architectures to meet policy challenges such as privacy and intellectual property rights. He teaches Internet public policy in MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. From 2011-2012, Weitzner was the United States Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Internet Policy in the White House, where he led initiatives on online privacy, cybersecurity, Internet copyright, and trade policies to promote the free flow of information.

About

The event will tackle the complex implications of recently revealed government surveillance programs around the world.

The Internet Society and others have expressed concern that policies that result in the unwarranted collection, storage, and potential correlation of user data undermine many of the key principles and relationships of trust upon which the global Internet is based. The Internet Society notes that information about a startling number of programs by governments around the world has emerged in recent weeks; developments that we believe will have a chilling effect on the growth of the Internet and the realization of its full potential as a trusted medium for free expression and creativity.

This forum will examine how to balance objectives for openness, global interoperability, and security in an online world and whether the vision of an open, innovative Internet can persist in an environment of online surveillance and data collection. Can we achieve a balance between national security, privacy, and free expression or do users have to be willing to compromise?

“It’s clear that recent reports about a government surveillance program have driven a strong public reaction, with reverberations and implications for Internet users, architecture, governance and more,” said Paul Brigner, Regional Bureau Director, North America, of the Internet Society. “This event will provide an open forum for dialogue so that all interested stakeholders understand the issues at hand and what is at stake regarding interrelated principles of privacy, security, reliability, and user choice.”

The 2nd annual Stockholm Internet Forum took place on May 22-23 2013. Freedom and openness, respect for human rights, innovation and global development are the key concepts for the Forum. The conference had two main themes this year: Internet Freedom and Security, and Internet Freedom and Development. Participants included policymakers, civil society representatives, activists, business representatives and technical community representatives. The entire program was webcast live and a detailed and high quality archive is available including summaries, a YouTube playlist, and also interviews.

Like this:

[Washington, D.C. and Geneva, Switzerland – 14 February 2013] – Internet Society President and Chief Executive Officer Lynn St. Amour today announced that she will leave the Internet Society in February 2014 at the conclusion of her contract. St. Amour joined the Internet Society in 1998 as Executive Director of its Europe, Middle East, and Africa division. She became Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in 1999 and was appointed President and CEO in March of 2001.

St. Amour will leave a long legacy of accomplishments at the Internet Society, a cause-driven organization dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people. During her tenure, the relationship between the Internet Society and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the primary body responsible for the Internet’s core standards and protocols, was significantly strengthened and expanded. This increased collaboration and other similar efforts in the international policy and development realms established the Internet Society as an internationally respected expert on Internet governance, technical, development, and policy issues. These accomplishments were supported by the growth of the Internet Society’s annual revenues during this period from just over USD $1M to $35M.

Over the years, the Internet Society has significantly expanded its global impact and today is engaged with a growing, multi-stakeholder community through its Regional Bureaus, 91 Chapters, more than 65,000 Members, and 146 Organization Members. In 2003, St. Amour led a successful bid to operate the .ORG registry and subsequently established a supporting entity, Public Interest Registry, to carry out that responsibility in line with the Internet Society’s principles and values. In conjunction with the Internet Society’s 20th anniversary in 2012, she developed the Internet Hall of Fame, which annually recognizes Internet visionaries, innovators, and leaders from around the world.

“The Board deeply appreciates Lynn for her exceptional work, passion, and tireless dedication to the organization’s mission of preserving the open, global Internet,” said Eva Frölich, Chair of the Internet Society Board of Trustees. “She is a remarkable leader and has been instrumental to building the Internet Society into a global leader on Internet policy, technical, economic, and social matters. The Board will work closely with Lynn over the next 12 months to implement a succession plan and ensure a smooth transition.”

“The Internet Society is a global organization with a world-class staff, extremely knowledgeable Members and Chapters, and a skilled Board, and we are well positioned with a valuable and unique role at the heart of the Internet’s development. Our future is only limited by our vision,” stated Ms. St. Amour. “The Internet is at a very important inflection point today. With the Internet Society’s well-respected and global presence, I am confident that the Society will make an even greater impact in the years ahead.”

On behalf of Lynn St. Amour, President and CEO, and the Internet Society Board of Trustees:

Emerging reports from various organizations and individuals indicate that international Internet connectivity was shut off in Syria today. The Internet is an open, global medium for communication, idea exchange, empowerment, and innovation. Access to the global Internet is a crucial enabler of human rights.

As with previous actions to block Internet traffic in Egypt and Libya, the effect of cutting off Internet traffic – ceasing the flow of information in and out of the country – is a serious action. It harms not only the citizens of Syria, but also Syria’s economy and society at large. The Internet Society stands with other organizations around the world in calling for Internet access to be restored with all due speed and cooperation so that vital services can continue to function and citizens won’t be further impacted.

First and foremost, the Internet Society joins with the rest of the world in its utmost concern about the safety and security of the Syrian people. Previous cases where such actions were deliberately taken have proven not only to be harmful, but to be ineffective. The Internet Society hopes that the volatile situation in Syria will come to a peaceful solution and that the citizens of Syria will soon be able to join the rest of the world in having their voices heard online.

The third annual Dynamic Coalition on Core Internet Values workshop was held on Thursday 8 November 2012 at the Internet Governance Forum 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meeting was chaired by the President of the Internet Society, Lynn St Amour. The meeting examined the challenges to the Open and Global Internet, define present issues and arrive at recommendations for fair policies for the further evolution of the Internet as a free and open eco-system. As a sub-theme in focus, the meeting examined the concerns of various stakeholders and have a discussion to address the concerns and to outline the role of various stakeholders in preserving Core Internet Values. Invited participants included Olivier Crepin LeBlond (Chair of At Large) Vint Cerf (Chief Internet Evangelist of Google), Dr Stephen Crocker (Chair of ICANN), Elvana Thaci, Council of Europe, Desiree Miloshevic (Open Rights Group), George Sadowsky (Global Policy Initiative), Sivasubramanian Muthusumy (ISOC Chennai, India), and Avri Doria, Internet Governance Caucus. Video is below – it will be captioned and posted to YouTube shortly.

In June 2011 Internet Society President Lynn St Amour participated in a panel at the launch of the Global Innovation Index 2011. Since yesterday the video has been widely viewed after Cory Doctorow posted a link on Boing Boing pointing out that, at 49 mins in, fellow panelist Francis Gurry, the Director General of the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) asserted the world would have been better off if the World Wide Web had been patented and licensed. Lynn is on at 14:38 and 42:25.

Some have suggested in the past that the Internet just wasn’t built to handle the vast structures it supports today, and that for security reasons, we ought to just scrap it and start over. Do you think that’ll ever happen?

I think any notion that scraps the Internet and starts from a clean slate is just a non-starter; we won’t be scrapping this Internet for many, many decades. That’s not to say there won’t be other Internets or other structures that both build on and evolve from this one. The Internet is basically a series of building blocks that allow future Internets and future applications. Cybersecurity often does mean a hardening down or locking out, under the guise of protection, but our advice is really to lean in to the real core of what’s made the Internet the Internet–its openness, its resiliency.

Lynn St Amour will, of course, be moderating the closing Cerf/Berners Lee/Strickling discussion at INET New York on June 14.

What is the Internet? What makes it what it is? What are its architectural principles? What are the core values? And what is happening to the core values in the process of its evolution? What is it that needs to be preserved and what changes are inevitable?

Janna Quitney Anderson of Elon School of Communications has written an article titled “Net’s 10 Commandments” proposed by Ian Peter during this workshop also summarizing the deliberations at this workshop by panelists on arstechnica